Austin gets ready for boosters

City Council unanimously approved a new strategy Thursday focused on equitable and efficient distribution of Covid-19 booster shots. The resolution, which comes from Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, asks the city manager to develop a comprehensive booster shot strategy by Sept. 21, for presentation at the Sept. 28 Council work session. “As recommended booster shots quickly approach, this policy ensures we have a targeted strategy in place that takes into account all of the lessons learned from the initial vaccine rollout,” Fuentes said. “This needs to go beyond fixing the technical issues. We need a plan that is readily available to Austinites, laying out how we’re going to get booster shots in arms while still addressing low vaccination rates, especially in our communities of color.” Currently, those with compromised immune systems are eligible for Moderna and Pfizer booster shots, and President Joe Biden has announced a plan to roll out boosters for the general public beginning the week of Sept. 20.